Builder articles from September 2003

Builder archives from September 2003

Weighty matters: new homes get blamed for an ever-lengthening list of society's problems.(Editor's Notes)(Editorial)
September 1, 2003... I READ IN THE PAPER THE OTHER DAY THAT NEW HOMES make you fat. That's because of all the breakfast islands, home-theater popcorn makers, bedroom refrigerators, and wet bars builders are installing. In fact, I know a guy who's gained 20...

Great job.(B Mail)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... I COMPLIMENT YOU ON THE JULY ISSUERS focus on workforce housing ("Workforce Blues," July, page 114). You have clearly articulated a severe problem facing the country and the building industry. Where will our badly needed workers be able to...

Where goes the neighborhood?(B Mail)
September 1, 2003... I WRITE AS AN NAHB MEMBER BUILDING infill housing and traditional neighborhoods. The working poor in this country spend nearly as much on transportation as on housing. They generally commute one worker per car to low-income jobs far from...

Prime time.(B Mail)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A PROFESSIONAL PAINTER TOLD ME I should scrape off as much as possible of the old primary and secondary coats on our 83-year-old house before repainting it. Then, work out the proper ratio for dissolving linseed oil in a linseed oil-based...

Callback.(B Mail)
September 1, 2003... FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ENTERING our America's Best Builder program, we inadvertently misprinted Loretta Williams' e-mail address. The address is lwilliam@hanley-wood.com. DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR QUESTION? E-MAIL BOYCE TOMPSON AT:...

Penal code! Minnesota builder faces jail time over building code violation, pending state Supreme Court ruling.(Building Code Law)(Carriage Homes Inc.)
September 1, 2003... IN AN UNUSUAl. CASE, THE MINNESOTA SUPREME Court will rule on whether general contractor John Arkell, president of Carriage Homes, will go to jail for violating the state's building code on the Southwinds project, a 38-unit condo development in...

Big payments.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(housing)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... More than 14 million American households spend more than half their income on housing, according to the Harvard Joint Center's 2003 State of the Nation's Housing report, For the first time on record, more of these cost-burdened households are...

Brain power.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture wins research grant)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture has been awarded the $100,000 Latrobe Fellowship to pursue research into how the brain perceives architecture. The Latrobe Fellowship, named for architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, is given biennially...

Western advance.(Big Deals)(Lennar Corp.)(LNR Property Corp.)(Newhall Land and Farming Co.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... In a $990 million cash transaction, Lennar has joined with former affiliate LNR Property to purchase Newhall Land and Farming Co., a Southern California developer founded in 1883. If approved, the deal will give Lennar a prime position in the...

Texas standard.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(residential construction standards)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Gov. Rick Perry of Texas signed a bill earlier this year that establishes statewide uniform residential construction standards and creates a nine-member Texas Residential Construction Commission that will register home builders, oversee...

Better to settle.(Greater Atlanta HBA settlement with DeKalb County, Georgia over building permit fee overcharges)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Greater Atlanta HBA reached a $1.65 million settlement with DeKalb County over a prolonged pattern of overcharges on building permit fees. The Atlanta trade group had claimed that the county was using monies for general fund expenses that...

Vanity flair.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Cole and Co.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Architects, designers, and home builders looking to feature vanities fashioned from high-style furniture now have a resource that cuts down on the headaches associated with a true custom project. Cole & Co.'s new Bathroom in a Box is a...

Movable mortgage: E*Trade introduces a portable mortgage for buyers concerned about rising interest rates.(Future Proofing)
September 1, 2003... E*TRADE, THE ONLINE BANK, HAS INTRODUCED a home loan for the ultimate forward planner: a portable mortgage that can be taken out at today's historically low interest rates and applied to a future home purchase when, one assumes, rates would be...

Piping be gone: using air admittance valves can save hundreds of dollars per house.(Cost Cutter)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... FOR STAN LUHR, IT'S AN EASY choice. Venting a home's plumbing system through air admittance valves, rather than piping, "reduces builders' risk and cost at the same time," says Luhr, president of Quality Built, a Poway, Calif., firm that...

On the move: transit-oriented development is making waves in two of this country's most traffic-challenged cities: Los Angeles and Atlanta.(In Transit)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... LOS ANGELES-BASED DEVELOPER URBAN PARTNERS has completed phase 1 in the construction of Del Mar Station in Pasadena, Calif., a transit-oriented, mixed-use project under development in Los Angeles County. Substantial completion of a 1,200-space...

Compliance aid: new site helps builders find environmental regulations.(Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center,)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... BUILDERS NEED A RELIABLE SOURCE OF information to navigate the maze of environmental regulations they must comply with on any given job. That's why the EPA funded the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center, which has set up a Web...

Sun up.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(PowerLight Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The future of electricity generation has arrived in California. Solano County has a new 230kW solar electric system, Furnished by PowerLight Corp. of Northern California, it provides enough electricity to power over 200 homes during the day....

Condos revisited.(in the Sacramento, CA, area)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... In response to huge jumps in single-family home prices (15.3 percent between February and March of this year alone), many Sacramento, Calif.-area builders are turning back to condominiums as a way to achieve high densities and affordability....

A good coach.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), a nonprofit group based in Chicago, has asked the city of Chicago to include provisions for coach housing in an upcoming rewrite of the city's zoning code as a way to offer more low-cost housing options....

Paycheck envy? Despite continued good times, home building execs make a lot less than their commercial counterparts.(Consolidation Backlash)
September 1, 2003... A NEW CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVE SALARY study from Specialty Consultants (SCI) of Pittsburgh says that the prosperity of the home building industry hasn't meant continued compensation growth for managers. The study looked at the top 50 percent of...

Candid camera: PBS tracks construction of a luxury home from start to finish.(TV Time)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... THERE'S NOTHING LIKE HAVING A TV crew on a jobsite to keep everyone on their toes. At least that's what Bruce Bleiman, president of Unique Homes of Charlotte, is finding out. One of his projects, a $2.5 million, 8,500-square-foot, chateau-style...

New rules: as a Texas homeowner's lawsuit moves through the courts, KB Home changes its warranty policy for future customers and says past buyers can sue if unhappy with arbitration.(Arbitration Action)
September 1, 2003... WHEN THE FIFTH-LARGEST HOME builder in the country changes its policy on warranties and binding arbitration, builders notice--especially when arbitration is being touted as a key solution to construction defect lawsuits. But KB Home's...

Showdown: a recent court decision says Plastpro did not steal secrets from Therma-Tru.(Inside Story)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... SIX YEARS AGO, THERMA-TRU CORP., Maumee, Ohio-based maker of wood-grained fiberglass doors, sued Plastpro, of Livingston, NJ., over patent infringement. A few weeks ago, a U.S. district court judge rejected most of its claims, allowing Plastpro...

Border crossing: Toronto-based Mattamy Homes purchases a second U.S. builder.(Atlantic Builders )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... WITH 3,255 CLOSINGS LAST YEAR, Mattamy Homes is the largest builder in Ontario, but this Canadian builder has been virtually unknown in the United Stares. No longer. The Toronto-based private builder just made its second American...

Meta magic.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
September 1, 2003... THE HIGH-VOLTAGE COLOR OF THE Meta Plasma faucet is the result of an acrylic material that appears to "magically illuminate" in the presence of natural light. The single-lever faucet has a solid brass chrome-plated body, spout, and handle and...

Stuff it.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
September 1, 2003... IT'S ONE THING TO STORE TOOLS IN YOUR BAG, but it's another thing to have easy access to them. Unlike other bags, the Veto Pro Pac XL stores tools vertically for easier access, the manufacturer says. It has a tool bay in the front, another in...

Panel members.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
September 1, 2003... INSTEAD OF A RUN-OF-THE-MILL COVERING FOR YOUR SUB-ZERO REFRIGERATOR, TRY ONE of these stylish overlay panels that are designed to cover the door of the 601R dual refrigeration unit. Measuring 34 1/4 inches wide, 59 1/4 inches high, and 1-inch...

Armor plate.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
September 1, 2003... THE MANUFACTURER SAYS HOMEPLATE SIDING REPRESENTS a new siding category called Integrated Wood Polymers because it is made from approximately 50 percent wood and 50 percent polyethylene. As a result, it offers exceptional moisture resistance,...

Holes in one.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
September 1, 2003... CUTTING ELECTRICAL HOLES HAS ALWAYS been a low-tech affair, but the procedure has now moved into the 21st century. The Perfect Cutter system consists of a template that is designed to cut various types of electrical holes; a router; and a...

Welcome Matte.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
September 1, 2003... FLAT-FINISH PAINT LOOKS NICE, BUT IT DOES NOT HANDLE MARKS AND smudges as well as a semi-gloss finish. The solution to that drawback is Regal Matte, a stain-resistant latex interior flat paint that the manufacturer says can be scrubbed clean...

Sky high: presented with the challenge of building three-story homes on small lots, this architect-builder team pushed steel framing to new heights.(Betting On Steel)
September 1, 2003... ON THE FOUR-ACRE SITE OF THE Verona project in Irvine, Calif., Greystone Homes (a Lennar subsidiary) faced a tough engineering challenge: Squeeze in 47 large, detached luxury homes, sized with floor plans between 1,788 square feet and 2,105...

Silestone moves from Main Street to mainstream with big builders.(Silestone Builder of the Month Profile)
September 1, 2003... SILESTONE BUILDER OF THE MONTH PROFILE Builder Pulte Homes, Nevada Operations www.Pulte.com Location 46 cities across the U.S. Average Annual Homes Sold 750 (Las Vegas market only) ...

Mold mania: an attorney who has defended builders against mold litigation offers a view from the builder's corner of the courtroom.(Commentary)
September 1, 2003... MOLD HAS NOT GONE AWAY. IF anything, mold hysteria has in creased in the last year. By some estimates, about 9,000 mold cases have been filed to date, and insurers are running scared. Plaintiffs' attorneys continue to bring both property damage...

Mass appeal: think universal design is only for the elderly and the disabled? Think again.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF UNIVERSAL design, they usually associate it with older individuals or those with physical limitations and with products such as grab bars, ramps, and fold-down shower seats. But the term goes beyond products and services...

Raise the roof: as buyers demand more options, manufacturers give asphalt a face-lift.(Products)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... ASPHALT IS THE No. 1 RESIDENTIAL roofing material in the United States, and that is likely to continue in the future. Demand is expected to reach $3-5 billion by 2007, the Cleveland-based Freedonia Group concludes in its recent study,...

End of the wave: as the refinancing wave ebbs, currents shift in the mortgage market.(Vital Signs)
September 1, 2003... FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, REFINANCING homeowners have taken out ever-increasing amounts of equity from their homes. In 2000, they pulled out $26.2 billion, a figure that more than tripled in 2001, when it rose to $82.9 billion, according to...

Loan boost.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... In July, the NAHB called on Congress to boost the loan limits of FHA multifamily mortgage insurance programs. Testifying on behalf of the NAHB before the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Committee on Financial...

Lofty goals.(NAHB Briefs)(loft design exhibit planned)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Located in the luxury community of The Lakes at West Sahara, Las Vegas, The New American Home 2004 (TNAH) will showcase a distinctive loft design at the International Builders' Show, hosted by the NAHB, Jan. 19-22, 2004. "TNAH features new...

Opportunity for growth: the Bush administration's economic growth package gives home building businesses the chance to save money and grow.(From The President)
September 1, 2003... ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS TO DATE AS president of the NAHB was the opportunity to attend the White House ceremony when President Bush signed landmark legislation to cut taxes. Of course, I was honored to attend. But even more important was the...

Rate and see: higher interest rates will not destroy the housing market. In fact, housing demand should remain high.(Seiders Economy)
September 1, 2003... FALLING INTEREST RATES WERE THE KEY SUPPORT to housing demand and home builders until the middle of this year. The atmosphere in the nation's bond markets started to change dramatically as June drew to a close, and long term interest rates...

Good feeling.(builder confidence in the single-family home market remains solid)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Builder confidence in the single-family home market remains solid, with the outlook for the remainder of the year particularly high, the NAHB reports. The Housing Market Index (HMI), a monthly measure of builder confidence, gained two points to...

Quality assurance: manufacturer seeks to enhance quality through training certification program.(The NAHB Research Center Corner)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... THIS SUMMER, THE NATIONAL HOUSING Quality (NHQ) Program began piloting its Manufacturers Training Certification Program with Dublin, Calif.-based manufacturer Simpson Strong-Tie. The NAHB Research Center established the NHQ Program in 1993 to...

Tree cheers.(NAHB Briefs)(National Arbor Day Foundation awards homebuilders who use trees)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Ten builders and developers who made tree preservation a priority in the design, production, development, and marketing of their new communities have been honored with 2003 Building With Trees Awards of Excellence by The National Arbor Day...

Good neighbors.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Woodridge and River Bridge, Nashville, Tenn. WHY IT WORKED: Woodridge's golf course community and River Bridge's posh Belleview neighborhood provided the initial appeal for these attached townhomes, with price and presentation running a...

Price matters.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Sundance at Westridge, Valencia, Calif. WHY IT WORKED: Market demand in Los Angeles County is strong, especially for single-family detached homes priced around $500,000. Throw in a Tournament Players Club golf course and a 159-acre oak...

European charm.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Pointe at Little Cottonwood, Sandy, Utah. WHY IT WORKED: The mighty Wasatch Mountains are a fitting backdrop for McMullin Homes' European-inspired cottages, which feature pitched roofs, wood shutters, and a warm stucco finish. *...

Up front: work has its place at Front Street, a Ladera Ranch, Calif., neighborhood where home-based business are not only encouraged--they've been designed into the plans.
September 1, 2003... RALPH W. SPARGO, GENERAL manager of Gallery Communities at Standard Pacific Homes, was more than just a casual observer as he watched people tour the models at Front Street last March. Front Street, a live/work neighborhood that's part of...

Fast Track 2003: the race is not just to the swift but also to the strong. In our fifth annual Fast Track list, we highlight builders with speed and endurance: the marathoners.(Illustration)
September 1, 2003... RUNNERS CALL IT "HITTING THE WALL." SOMEWHERE near the last six miles of the 26.2-mile marathon, a runner's body begins to rebel. Muscles that have powered their way through the past 20 miles start to slow. A heart that's been working overtime...

An open-and-shut case for a better door.(First impressions)
September 1, 2003... The right entry door system from Pella can add value and curb appeal to any project. The front entry is the first part of a new house that your client will actually experience, and the impression it makes can mean all the difference in the...

Defective thinking: hypochondriac homeowners. Turn-tail insurance agencies. Opportunistic attorneys. Have construction-defect lawsuits made your world seem like a hostile place? Here's hope: Most litigation springs from a handful of easily avoidable construction errors. So put on your hard hat and grab your moisture meter. It's time to change the rules.(Reducing Your Liability Risk)
September 1, 2003... IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, COLORADO GOV. BILL OWENS signed intO law Colorado House bill 1161, limiting the amount of money homeowners can win from builders when they sue far construction defects. Similar legislation has passed in California and,...

Mold off: you can't totally eliminate all mold from your homes, but these products give you a fighting chance.
September 1, 2003... UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN TREKKING the Kalahari Desert for the past four years, you've no doubt heard that black mold can put you out of business. Well, the buzz is true, and the legal ramifications and potential insurance costs carry disturbing...

Shifting loyalties: side-by-side comparisons of builder product choices over five years reveal gradual--but significant--changes in methods and materials.(Special report: builder product preferences)
September 1, 2003... THE NAHB RESEARCH CENTER HAS been studying builder buying trends since the 1970s, but that information has remained largely in-house, shared (commercially) with only a few dozen manufacturers each year. This year, we asked the NAHB Research...

Miles ahead of the pack: the nation's top producer of award-winning real estate ads keeps its crown by doing one thing very, very well.(Milesbrand)
September 1, 2003... IT'S A MONDAY MORNING AT Milesbrand, and the nation's top producer of award-winning, results-producing real estate advertising has a toughie on its hands. In a week, it is scheduled to present a client 30, count 'em 30, fully developed...

An intelligent move: business intelligence software helps California builder speed up decision making and cycle time.(Dimensional-Basix software being used by Dunmore Homes)
September 1, 2003... IN AN INNOVATION MOVE FOR THE HOME BUILDING industry, Dunmore Homes in Roseville, Calif., is one of the first builders to successfully deploy business intelligence software, which lets users make database queries over a Web browser and view the...

A secure degree.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Cisco Learning Institute's Home Technology Integrator (HTI) program now includes coursework on Home Automation Inc.'s integrated security and home automation products. The HTI program, introduced in the fall of last year, is a 40- to 60-hour...

Beyond the PC.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Households with existing home networks are starting to look beyond basic PC functionality to a broad range of home entertainment applications, according to "Status of Digital Networks and Applications," a new joint report by Dallas-based market...

Toll buddies up: Web application delivers Instant Messenger-style responses to home buyer questions.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... TOLL BROTHERS IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF automated "bot" technology to give Website visitors rapid responses to routine questions about the company's new projects and communities. A Web bot is software that lets a site visitor make a database query...

Bright lights.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Leviton Manufacturing Co.)(Crestron Electronic Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Leviton Manufacturing Co. has entered into a technology alliance with Crestron Electronics in which the two companies will jointly market each other's products. The new relationship will start with the development of a system interface that...

Upgraded bidding.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(BuildTopia.com Inc. launched version 3.5 of its online construction management system)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... BuildTopia recently launched version 3.5 of its online construction management system. The new release improves the purchasing management and bidding features for both builders and subcontractors. One big change is the ability for...

SoftPlan steps up: latest version raises the standard for residential CAD.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... ANY SEASONED PENCIL-AND-PAPER DESIGNER who has tried to master a traditional CAD system quickly learns that it's usually faster to draw a one-off project by hand than to fire up the computer. But what if you could squeeze more than just...

Sensible accounting: builders who set clear business goals before choosing their accounting software won't get bamboozled by paperwork.
September 1, 2003... CRAIG SCHWEIKART, A SENIOR CONSULTANT AT SHINN Consulting who follows builder technology closely, has some simple advice for builders looking to deploy an accounting and construction management system: Figure out why you are buying a new system...

Hybrid home networks: structured wiring can offer the benefits of both a wired Ethernet and a wireless network.(Inner workings: a step-by-step guide to home and Internet technologies)
September 1, 2003... THE WIRELESS HYPE MACHINE IS ON warp factor nine this year, and all the research suggests American consumers want wireless. So is it time to abandon structured wiring for a totally wireless solution in new construction? Absolutely not! If...

What's new on Builder Online: let's talk about it.(Missing Links)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A MUCH-REQUESTED FEATURE FROM EARLIER versions of BUILDER Online reappeared with the launch of the all new, redesigned BUILDER Online last month: our reader-driven online bulletin boards. They let readers share opinions, seek answers to home...

Spacious first-floor master suite.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)
September 1, 2003... This engaging home is inspired by French eclectic architecture with striking style. A formal entry presents the dining room on the left, defined by stately columns. French doors open to the study, a quiet place for contemplation. Continue to...

Flooring.(Special Advertising Section)
September 1, 2003... Flooring decisions can be complex for builders and homeowners because there are many factors to consider. Decor is a big factor, of course. Flooring is not just a walking surface--it is a key design element in any home, and the type of flooring...

Windows & doors.(Special Advertising Section)
September 1, 2003... When it comes to windows and doors, it's all about style and performance. No matter what style of home you are building, you can complete the total look with the right windows and doors. You'll find a wide range of styles on the market today,...

Timberlake, Virginia Beach, Va.(Walk Through)(Terry Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... THE TERRY CORP. (NAMED FOR FOUNDER FRED NAPOLITANO'S daughter Theresa) launched Timberlake on three combined farms in 1973. The pioneering planned unit development employed an ecologist and a forester to determine which trees to save, where to...

Performance from a Builder's perspective.(Special Advertising Section)
September 1, 2003... The Builder Connection Georgia-Pacific has worked with builders, as well as building materials dealers, for more than 75 years. During that time, GP has learned some important things about the home building business. GP is a member of...

Innovations and insights: a new big builder conference zeros in on management ideas and innovations.(Editor's Note)(BIG BUILDER '03)
September 1, 2003... FOR ALL THE EFFORT THAT GOES INTO BUILDING better houses, the great underlying challenge facing big builders lies in building better management teams--and the right systems--to support those efforts. For most large organizations, that boils...

Message from the conference chair.
September 1, 2003... Dear Colleague, If your home building company is like mine, then one of its most pressing demands is for knowledge--new ideas, best practices, and the smartest ways to improve products, processes, and develop top-flight people. I've...

Big Builder '03 conference schedule.
September 1, 2003... [Tuesday/November 11] 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Golf Tournament at Bear's Best 4:30 to 4:45 p.m. Welcoming Remarks Boyce Thompson, Editorial Director, BUILDER, BIG BUILDER, Multifamily Executive 4:45 to 6:00 p.m. OPENING SESSION...

Lennar's master plan in L.A.: East-West partnership nets Newhall Land for $990 million.(Briefings)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... GOING, GOING, GONE! BUILDABLE LAND IN northern Los Angeles is not exactly an abundant commodity. So netting not just one, but two, master-planned communities in the region is a bit of a coup. Miami-based Lennar Corp., together with its real...

Orleans reaches Florida.(Briefings)(Orleans Homebuilders Inc. bought Masterpiece Homes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Orleans Homebuilders, which builds homes in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the Carolinas, and Virginia, announced it had purchased all the outstanding stock of Masterpiece Homes, allowing the Bensalem, Pa.-based home builder to enter the central...

Median home values.(Briefings)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Median Home Values U.S. Home Values (Median Price--2000 Census) Hawaii $272,700 California 211,500 Massachusetts 185,700 New Jersey 170,800 Washington 168,300...

Housing highs: another reason to live in Hawaii.(Briefings)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... HAWAII RECORDED THE HIGHEST MEDIAN value for single-family homes among the 50 states ($272,700), more than twice the national median of $111,800, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. The lowest median was in Oklahoma...

Big spenders: new study profiles owners of million-dollar homes.(Briefings)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... COLDWELL BANKER REAL ESTATE CORP., headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., recently profiled million-dollar plus home owners around the country. The survey found: * 31 percent are cash buyers; * 68 percent are considered "new money"; *...

Choice Homes expands.(Briefings)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... People like things big in Texas, and Choice Homes, of Arlington, Texas, is expanding accordingly. Steve Wall, president and CEO, announced the company was expanding into the New Braunfels market, about 25 miles from San Antonio International...

Lending acclaim: customers rank Shea lending unit "tops" in loan and closing process.(Shea Financial Services)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... OBTAINING FINANCING IS A TRICKY, TENSE, and unpredictable aspect of the home buying process. Six separate divisions of Shea Financial Services, the lending arm of Shea Homes, scored top ratings in leading prospective home buyers through the...

Hovnanian Co.(Industry Movers And Shakers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Michael Killeen has been named vice president of construction services for Edison, N.J.'s K. Hovnanian Co.'s Northeast Division. Killeen has been in the homebuilding business for 19 years, all of them with K. Hovnanian. He has served in a...

U.S. Home Corp.(Industry Movers And Shakers)(promoted Francine Miller )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... U.S. Home Corp., of Clearwater, Fla., has promoted Francine Miller to president of the Central Florida Division, which built more than 1,500 homes last year in Hillsborough. Pinellas, and parts of Pasco County. Miller joined U.S. Home 25 years...

Richmond American.(Industry Movers And Shakers)(Darlene A. Thomas appointment)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Richmond American homes tapped Darlene A. Thomas as its new director of design for the builder's Southern California operations, which stretch through Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. She...

Quadrant Corp.(Industry Movers And Shakers)(named Peter Orser new president)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The largest builder of new single-family homes in Washington State, Quadrant Corp., named Peter Orser as its new president. Orser, a company veteran of 16 years, was formerly executive vice president. He succeeds Steve Dennis, who will serve as...

Centex sheds unit.(Briefings)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Dallas-based Centex Corp. is toning up its balance sheet, flaying sold its manufactured housing division, Casco, earlier in the year, Centex announced that it would sell off its Contex Construction Products (CXP) unit to shareholders in a...

Rush to move in.(Briefings)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Floridians seem increasingly in a rush. Two years ago, between 10 percent and 20 percent of U.S. Home's new Central Florida Division customers wanted ready-to-move-in homes, according to Francine Miller, division president. "Today," she notes,...